D&D 5E What is the appeal of the weird fantasy races?

[Minigiant]

What would not be cool would be for the potential new guy to try and debate with Oofta about why he needs to change stuff for him.

What would be cool is if Oofta asks the potential new guy why they want to be a good Drow ranger and find a background and concept that does work in Oofta's world. Perhaps the rebellious race works better as an orc cleric here?

Not saying Oofta doesn't do this already.

Not that DMs should be forced to do it.

But to me this should start becoming the norm.

I dunno about other peeps but I like when people find a place in my world that hits their interests.

 

[Hussar]

IF

Hussar has said IF the they are banning it for purely personal reasons they are being a jerk. They have also said ad nauseum that if the DM has a different reason, a reason relating to the setting or something else, then they are not being a jerk.

Just quoting this bit since it appears that there has been a repeated reading failure.

If you have any other reason OTHER THAN purely personal reasons, then you are fine.

That's the fifth time I've had to repeat this.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Just quoting this bit since it appears that there has been a repeated reading failure.

If you have any other reason OTHER THAN purely personal reasons, then you are fine.

That's the fifth time I've had to repeat this.

Define 'personal reason.'

 

[Jaeger]

Well, I do know of a DM who it became an open secret that he hated paladins and druids (this was 2e) and no matter what you did, he'd engineer scenario's to make you lose your status. Come to think of it, he was pretty harsh on clerics and thieves too. Never said no, just made your life miserable if you did.

You can kinda see why I'm gunshy about "trust me" DMs...

This is a BAD DM acting in BAD Faith.

If he didn't want to run Paladins, Druids, Clerics, and thieves. Then he should have said so up front. He was being a passive-aggressive asshat.

I second: BAD DM's gonna be BAD.

IMHO, Any DM that states their race/class campaign restrictions up front is more likely to be acting in an open and trustworthy manner.

They are openly stating that: "I really enjoy running X type of game. If you think you'd will like playing in X type of game then we can have a really good time."

To me this signals a good degree of honesty in preparation of trying to maximize mutual enjoyment at their gaming table.

 

[Zardnaar]

Does that imply that the DM should always allow the four Basic classes and races?

(I know what people are going to say, but technically they PHB had no "ask the DM" about the common races, just the uncommon ones. And there is actually nothing about classes in the PHB).

It means the expectation is there for those 4 classes and races.

Specific things can opt out eg Theros and Ravnica.

 

[Zardnaar]

One way to make DMing easier is to limit options. My advice to newbie DMs would be to do this, at least initially. Start small. Do not worry about any extra books with optional content, just say that they aren't in use, at least for now. And if the PHB seems overwhelming, it is fine to limit things even further. Design some small area for play, low level adventures don't really need much.

This I learnt with basis. 7 options total even 5E basic has 16 combos.

 

[Maxperson]

Just quoting this bit since it appears that there has been a repeated reading failure.

If you have any other reason OTHER THAN purely personal reasons, then you are fine.

That's the fifth time I've had to repeat this.

If you have personal reasons, you are fine as well. The DM is entitled to his feelings about what he likes and dislikes.

 

[Remathilis]

If you have personal reasons, you are fine as well. The DM is entitled to his feelings about what he likes and dislikes.

But other players are not.

 

[Zardnaar]

But other players are not.

Other players can run the game they want themselves or find a new diner/menu if it's that big of a deal.

I had one recently insist on a Dragonborn cleric, I caved he lasted two sessions went to other game.

He didn't like that DM not allowing rolled stats and she said no. He didn't last long there either.

 

[Mecheon]

There is no "initially." They don't like it. This longshot idea you've concocted isn't something that should ever be relied upon. The vast majority of the time what will happen is that the game will start and run for a while, the DM will not like it after all, and have to end the campaign early. That's a far, FAR worse choice than just having the player pick something else fun to play.

If a DM's that upset about having gnomes or dragonborn in their game they quit the game, then I'd say there's issues with how that DM is perceiving things and you've got a r/rpghorrorstories story in the making right there

I'd call that "Bullet dodged" rather than a far worse choice